In one of the more bizarre lawsuits ever, Texas plumber Mark Oberholtzer found himself defending his reputation after a truck bearing the logo of his plumbing business wound up being used by ISIS militants in Syria.
The fallout was intense: death threats, FBI visits, and a high-stakes lawsuit against a major dealership. Years later, Oberholtzer quietly settled, likely making a tidy sum
The strange journey of a plumbing truck
In 2015, Texas plumber Mark Oberholtzer sold his Ford F-250 to a Houston dealership, expecting local resale. Months later, he saw his truck, still with “Mark-1 Plumbing” decals, used by ISIS in Syria with an anti-aircraft gun. The viral image caused harassment for Oberholtzer,… pic.twitter.com/rIaM8fVe0x
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(@808constituent) October 7, 2025
In October 2013, Oberholtzer traded in a black 2005 Ford F-250 to AutoNation Ford Gulf Freeway in Houston. Oberholtzer used the vehicle with his company, Mark-1 Plumbing, and had the truck wrapped with his business name and phone number. As part of the trade-in process, he attempted to peel off the decals himself. According to his later lawsuit, a salesman intervened, warning him he might damage the paint and promising the dealership would remove the decals later.
But they never did. The truck was sent to auction in November 2013, sold to a Houston used-car dealer, and then exported to Mersin, Turkey. From there, it crossed into Syria.
The ISIS photos
About a year later, images began circulating on extremist Twitter feeds and propaganda outlets showing militants firing weapons from the truck still emblazoned with “Mark-1 Plumbing” and a phone number.
The photos went viral. The truck even earned a cameo on The Colbert Report during its final episode, where Colbert quipped: “That country is going down the toilet, but for the first time, they know who to call to unclog it.”
The fallout
As the images spread, Oberholtzer’s life turned chaotic. His business numbers, personal lines, and staff phones were bombarded, often with insults, accusations, and death threats. One lawsuit filing claimed the phones received over 1,000 threatening and harassing calls. Federal law enforcement questioned Oberholtzer to ensure he had no ties to terrorism. At one point, he says, he was told to protect his family and carry a gun.
He also claimed the business took a hit. He shut down operations for a week, lost revenue, and says his reputation was tainted by association with ISIS, even though he was not involved.
The Oberholtzer lawsuit
In December 2015, Oberholtzer filed suit in a Texas state court, seeking $1 million in damages. The suit alleged negligence, fraud, misrepresentation, libel, appropriation of trade name, and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, among other claims.
The defendants said that the truck was sent to auction as soon as it arrived and suggested that dealers or auction houses routinely handle decal removal. A spokesperson said that the dealership was investigating the chain of custody.
Oberholtzer did walk away richer — but by how much?
Despite the sensational nature of the case, Oberholtzer never went to trial. The exact settlement amount was not disclosed publicly. But industry commentary suggests it was large enough to justify bypassing a jury trial, given the reputational damage, threats, and legal expenses. After settling, Oberholtzer retained his company’s name, Mark-1 Plumbing, and remained in business.
